text: The blue-chip index closed 0.6%, or 45.4 points, higher at 7,337.8 - the 14th time it has ended higher.
  Housebuilders helped to lift the index, with Barratt Developments up 3.1% and St James's Place 2.3% higher.
  ITV shares rose 2.9% after Goldman Sachs named the broadcaster as a possible takeover target.
  Shares in building materials company SIG jumped 15.4% after it reported higher sales.
  The FTSE 250 firm said like-for-like group sales increased by 0.3% last year, adding that full-year profits were on track to meet its forecast range of £75m to £80m.
  Pub group Mitchells & Butlers - whose brands include Harvester, Toby Carvery and All Bar One - rose 2.9% after reporting "particularly strong" trading over Christmas.
  The company said like-for-like sales were up 4.7% in the four weeks to 7 January.
  On the currency markets, the pound was up 0.4% against the dollar at $1.2212, and rose 0.2% against the euro to €1.1488.
target: London's FTSE 100 has chalked up its 12th consecutive record high as shares in housebuilders led the way.